Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ)

Slovene contribution at the the 13th Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ curated by Barbara Novakovič Kolenc in June 2015. A flyer cover image.

The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space is the world’s largest exhibition in the field of scenography and theatre architecture. The first PQ took place in 1967, and since then every four years have introduced new spatial solutions for performing arts as conceived by creators from more than 70 countries.

Background

In 1995 Slovenia took part in the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ) for the first time. The Slovenian stage design 1991–1994 exhibition was curated and staged by Meta Hočevar, stage director and set designer. Later on the National Theatre Museum of Slovenia organised participation of a number of acknowledged stage and costume designers working in Slovenia. Alan Hranitelj presented his 5 metre high stage set costume construction for the Stravinski's Oedipus Rex opera in 2003, the next PQ saw the Meta Hočevar's Play of Spaces, while in 2011 Tomaž Toporišič curated the presentations of Ema Kugler, Dunja Zupančič and Miha Turšič (Noordung Cosmokinetic Cabinet) and Belinda Radulović (in the section Extreme Costumes).

PQ 2015

The main theme of the 13th edition of the Prague Quadrennial 2015 is Shared Space: Music Weather Politics. A series of symposia, meetings and exhibitions culminated at the Prague Quadrennial taking place from during June 18-28 2015 in several historical buildings in the very centre of Prague.

The 2015 differs from the previous ones: a mere documentation of performance design process or staging record should become a living stage to turn the space into an experience – scenography, according to Sodja Lotker, the artistic director of PQ.

National section

In 2015 the producer of the Slovene section is Slovenian Theatre Institute in close collaboration with the Muzeum Institute. Barbara Novakovič Kolenc, a curator for the Countries and Regions section, selected the authors who stand out with their recent stage and costume design. They deconstructed their designs into a visual art installation entitled Compressed Space vs. Extended Space, on view at Kafka's House, Prague.

Tristan and Isolde, a full length ballet to an original score by Sašo Kalan and Wagner's opera musical fragments, produced by the Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana in 2014. Stage design by Meta Grgurevič in collaboration with JAŠA.

Meta Grgurović in collaboration with JAŠA created a set design for the Tristan and Isolde, a full length ballet to an original score by Sašo Kalan and Wagner's opera musical fragments, produced by the [[Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana in 2014. A gigantic kinetic sculpture made of repetitive elements of aluminium and plastic nets "creates situations such as a garden, a haven, a threat, a nearness, a distance, a night-and-day" (M.G.). The installation at the PQ elaborated a string of divergences further: a box with a suspended vial, surrounded by mirrors, is faced with a video that gives word to the stage in motion on an empty stage.

There is another object in the room: a transparent box with the layered costumes of the Storm Still compressed into it. On the screen, a flow of actors' and costumes portraits discloses the fragments of the performance scenes and senses. Ana Savić Gecan created the costumes for the Handke's drama Storm Still put on stage in the Slovene National Theatre Drama Ljubljana and in Slovene Permanent Theatre in Trieste in May 2013.

Peter Handke - Še vedno vihar / Storm Still - režija: Ivica Buljan by SNG Drama Ljubljana on YouTube

Student Section

In 2015 Slovenia participates in the PQ Student Section for the first time. SLOGI invited the Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana and the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) to prepare an installation for the Bethlehem Chapel - Lapidarium in Prague.

Several workshops take place in spring 2015 with 33 students participating. Out of 12 project proposals the tutors Maruša Zorec, Uroš Rustja and Žanina Mirčevska selected the installation Silent Storm by architecture students Ana Lokas, Nejc Luznar, Danijel Tejić, Rok Willenpart and Maruša Žemlja, and a dramaturgy student Anja Rošker.

The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in 2015 was supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Prague.